NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co <BA.N> said on Thursday it
delivered 441 commercial aircraft in 2007, its best performance
in six years and up 11 percent from 2006.

The year tally is in line with Boeing's forecasts, and the
highest since it delivered 527 planes in 2001. But it may fall
slightly short of rival Airbus, which had delivered 410
aircraft in 2007 through the end of November, three more than
Boeing at that time.

The U.S. plane maker flew 112 planes to customers in the
fourth quarter, up 9 percent from 103 the year before.

Airbus, owned by aerospace company EADS <EAD.PA>, is
expected to announce annual orders and deliveries later this
month.

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The deliveries tally is closely watched by investors and
analysts as that is when plane makers receive most of the
payment for a plane. Firm order figures, expected from Boeing
later on Thursday, give a more forward-looking idea of market
share.

For 2008, Boeing is forecasting between 480 and 490
commercial plane deliveries, as it ramps up production of some
of its models, reflecting a surge in orders over the past three
years.